2010 Synchroski Carving Championship

February 4-5, 2010

The NE Powder 8 Championships was started in 2003 and had remained there through the 2007 Championships, before moving to Stowe for the 2008 Championships. A two day competition with two person teams competing head-to-head, this event had served as a qualifier event for the World Powder 8 Championships hosted by Mike Wiegele’s in B.C., Canada, and currently serves as a qualifier for the US National Powder 8 Championships in Aspen, Colorado.

This year the event name has been changed to the Synchroski Carving Championships to better reflect the surface conditions we typically see in the East and to make more sense to potential new additions to the sport.

Bringing the event to Suicide Six.

While the event has succeeded at Jay Peak, the organizers believe that the continued growth of the event will be better served by continuing to host the event at a resort like Suicide Six, with greater accessibility for athletes, sponsors and spectators in such a centralized location.

While the geographic location of Jay Peak was a great draw for Canadian Teams (the winning team in 2007 was a pair of Canadian Instructors) and Jay Peak was a great host, we know that bringing the event a little farther south will increase the allure for competitors from central VT, NH and southern New England.

This event has already drawn competitors from varying parts of the United States and Canada, and there is no doubt that having the event hosted by Suicide Six should increase the attendance. For the upcoming season, we would expect 2 teams from Stowe, 1-2 from Jay Peak, 2 from Quebec, 2 from Killington, 1 from Mad River Glen, in addition to several western teams, as well as the inevitable 2 -3 new teams we hope to see year, plus, hopefully at least 1-2 teams from Suicide Six.

The field of judges includes trainers and managers from Colorado, Vermont and Ontario, all of whose credentials are impeccable.

The size of the event field in New England varies from year to year and with the promised attendance by some western teams, we expect to see further growth this year, in addition to the growth stimulated by moving the event to a new host location.

The organizers of the event handle virtually all of the details and related work, utilizing our own volunteers and judges, with the teams pitching in every year to manage course set up, take down, cleaning of the trail after the event, as well as the set up for the awards ceremony.

The resort provides the basic equipment, such as rope, fencing, brush gates for lane markers and drills while we do all the work, from course set up through a complete cleaning of the hill after each day of the event.

Tickets: Typically, our skiers get $20.00 per day athlete tickets for the training day and for the two competition days, while our judges and volunteers receive comp tickets.

Housing: We would like to see a discounted rate at the Woodstock Inn available, similar to the rate of last year, along with 3 comp rooms there for the judges, who all travel to reach the event.

Venue: Ideally, we look for a steep, wide run, such as we had last year, that the resort is able to shut down for the day and a half of competition. (Day Two of the event is typically finished by noon, allowing the trail to be re-opened to the public).

Dates: Dates are selected to avoid conflicts with President’s Week, making it possible for western teams to travel, as all ski instructors are booked solid at that time and the resort does not need to deal with an event during such a busy period.

Snow: In the past, we have only had true powder two of our seven years and generally make contingent grooming plans with the resort so that the snow is soft and looks good for photos and video. Mother Nature can’t be counted on in this regard.

We are more than happy to assist sponsors with demo tent space at no charge, should they desire it.

Fees: The listed entry fee of $90.00 is intended to be used for a small cash purse to the winning team in the event that we are unable to obtain a cash sponsorship for the podium teams’ prize money.

Media: Egan Entertainment is interested in filming for Dan Egan’s Ski World TV show. In addition, we receive PR assistance from What’s Up PR in Bozeman, Montana (Beth Cochran) who represents companies such as Chaos Hats, Transpack, Grammicci and more in addition to being quite experienced with events such as the Birds of Prey Downhill, American Ski Classic and the Honda Sessions, all of which are events held in the Vail area. PSIA-E typically also provides support for the event in the form of email blasts and so on.

What is a Synchroski Carving competition?

Teams of two skiers each, skiing in synch at high speeds, the second skier acting as the mirror image of the front skier, as they attempt to create perfect round “8s” in the snow. For the uninitiated, in competitions pairs of skiers go against one another in head to head competition, where they are judged on their technical skiing, turn symmetry, synchronicity and, most importantly, the quality and shape of the “8s” they create with their tracks. Quite simply, long, narrow turns are “bad” and will earn a team a quick trip home.

In the qualifier, which is open to any team on skis who would like to enter, each team will take one run, one team at a time. When all teams have been scored, the top 16 teams move on to the round robin, head to head, competition, seeded into four pools of four teams each based upon their qualifier score.

In the round robins part of the competition, the teams ski head to head against the other three teams in their pool, skiing three runs each. After these runs have been completed, the first place team in each pool, along with the next 4 highest scoring teams, regardless of pool, advance to the single elimination finals on the second day of the event.

In the finals, the top 8 teams square off in single elimination runs, with the top seeded team facing the 8th seeded team, 2 v. 7, 3 v. 6, 4 v. 5, with the winners of each run advancing. There are a total of 8 runs in the finals. [The first 4 runs, then the remaining four teams face off in 2 more runs, then there is a consolation between the 3rd and 4th teams, and a final run between the 1st and 2nd teams for the title.

Powder 8s and carving events have been a part of skiing history and lore since the time a second person strapped on a pair of skis. With New England already boasting of a long and rich history in the sport, it is time to bring one to the other, something that can only happen with your support. [See Addendum re: History of World Powder 8s]

PSIA-E Press Release

Typically, PSIA-E will place something similar to this In the SnowPro Fall Edition and then follows it up with an email to directors asking them to send a team to the event: (Last year’s sample below)

The 2009 New England Powder 8 Championships

February 5,6, 2009 will see the best powder 8 skiers in the East take to the slopes in a battle of the ski schools, as Suicide Six hosts the Seventh Annual New England Powder 8 Championships.

Presented by Synchroski.Com and supported by Western National Life, Karbon, Chaos, HighGear, Giro, Transpack, and more, this event will feature some of the best powder 8 skiers in the U.S., including teams from Beaver Creek, Stowe, Jay Peak, Okemo, Sugarbush, Suicide Six, Killington, Gore, Mad River Glen and more, going head to head on the steepest and deepest terrain Suicide Six has to offer.

The New England Powder 8 Championships is open to all skiers willing to pay their team entry fee and test their skills, a unique opportunity in the world of skiing.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 8 teams.

Entry fees will be $90.00 per team for the New England Powder 8 Championships. Entry forms and additional event information may be obtained emailing powdereight@gmail.com or by calling (802) 999 7544.

2010 Synchroski Carving Championships - Suicide Six

Feb 3-4, 2010

Three members of Aspen Team Diva competedon Feb. 4th in the Synchroski Carving Championships 2010 (SSCC)at Suicide Six, Vermont. The Diva Doubles, Kelly Beairsto from Snowmass Village and Robynne Ross from Aspen finished in a 3rd place tie in competition with their team member, Ginny Creak, a new member to Aspen Team Diva, and her teammate Stacey Gerrish from Beaver Creek.The four ladies finished behind men's Teams from Sutton, Quebec and Stowe, Vermont.

The SSCC is one of the Synchro ski calender events along with the US National Powder 8 Championships to be held March 4th and 5th here in Aspen where all 3 Aspen Divas can be seen competing once again. SSCC, formerly know as the New England Powder 8's started in 2003 in Jay Peak, moved to Stowe, VT and this year to Suicide Six as a part of with their 75th year celebrations.

Competition schedule continues on April 4th and 5th when the 12th Aspen Team Diva hosts the 9th Aspen World Synchro Championships here in Aspen where teams of 6 or 8 skiers/telemarkers/snowboarders/adaptive/kids teams are welcome to compete.